Arsenal 3 - 0 Sparta Prague

August 30, 2007 on 7:57 am | In Arsenal FC, Matches Reviews 2007/2008 | posted by Block19er |

Arsenal eased in the Champions League proper last night with a very comfortable display against Sparta Prague. Confidence amongst the Gooner faithful was high after the 2-nil away win. I had imagined Sparta would bring a lot of passionate fans to the game, the draw of London, normally brings them in. They actually had the fewest fans any club has ever bought to London, I’d say only 100 - 200. Made it interesting atmosphere wise, we had nobody for a bit of banter, but getting to the CL Group stages was enough for most Gooners.

The RedSection guys had all been given scarves from the club and it made a great visual affect from the other end, especially when we cracked in our first goal after just 7 minutes. It was great to see Tomas put the ball home against his old club for his first goal of the season. Walcott in from the start delivered a great cross for Rosicky to finish. Arsenal were finding it very comfortable and despite a couple of attacks from Prague the defence had a comfy night. Walcott and Eduardo were playing well as you’d expect from players trying to force their way into the first team.The second half start as the first finished with Arsenal in control without doing anything fantastic. On 68 Cesc and Adebayor came on and it changed the tempo of the game. Arsenal started to knock the ball about with a bit of flair and it was ‘Ole football’ from then on. With 8 minutes to go it was Cesc who grabbed number 2 on the night and Eduardo made it 3 with his first Emirates goal for Arsenal in the 89th minute. 5-nil on aggregate. It was good to see Eduardo involved in the second goal setting Cesc up and then scoring from a Denilsons cross. This should give him a massive boost of confidence.

Arsenal team: Almunia, Hoyte, Toure, Senderos, Clichy, Walcott, Diaby (Fabregas 68), Gilberto, Rosicky (Denilson 73), Eduardo, Van Persie (Adebayor 68). Subs not used: Fabianski, Hleb, Flamini, Bendtner.

Goals: Rosicky 7, Cesc 82, Eduardo 89.

Cards: Theo Walcott. 

Att: 58,462

Onto the draw today, it should take place around 5pm this afternoon, Arsenal are seeded in the draw, and will play a team from Pot 2, Pot 3, and Pot 4 with the first match just 3 weeks away.

POT 2: Valencia, Lyon, Porto, Sevilla or Athens, PSV, Roma, Benfica, Weder Bremen.

POT 3: Celtic, Shalke, Stuttgart, Steaua Bucharest, CSKA Moscow, Sporting, Lazio, Marseille. 

POT 4: Rangers, Shaktah Donesk, Besiktas, Olympiacos, Dynamo Kyiv, Fenebache, Slavia Prague, Rosenborg.

Anyone for Prague?